Progetto Pista Vintage

HarrieH's classic track bike projectA track bike has the beauty of simplicity. No distraction of cables, bottle holders, pumps and other accessories. Just a frame, fork, drivetrain, steering components and something to sit on will do the job on a track.
Some parts I already have for decades, others I have to collect. It's fun to look for the right components, to get them, build up the bike and, of course, ride it on the velodrome.
Oh, besides track, lots of (off-)road stuff as well.

Another not every day rendez-vous: Zeus Criterium Pista track crank set.
Will be a long shot to collect other Zeus parts and a matching frame.165 mm cranks with typical (odd) Zeus 119 (?) mm BCD3/32" chain ring 53T.

Ofmega Mistral: not the most common group set.
Actually, it's not a complete group set, but a few components and completed with some parts from other (CX, Super Competizione) series.
Very eye catching are the crank set and the (composite) rear derailleur and shifting levers.
Note that not all "Mistral" parts are on the group set photo below.
There are also high flange track hubs and track pedals.

This track crank set is 165 mm long and the 5 mm spider and chain ring have a BCD of 144 mm.
The 52T chain ring is narrow, designed for 1/2x3/32" chains.

Something you ould never buy to ride. Heavy, totally over-engineered, ridiculous, expensive.
But a must have for a collector.
So, here it is: Campagnolo Electa pneumatic saddle. Complete with box, bag, pump and instruction leaflet.
Not even developped by Campagnolo. The technology and manufacturing is by Fugazzi (check: Air Dea saddle), but of course, the Campagnolo logo makes it really hot and desirable, although a Fugazzi is even more rare.
The bladder, which can be maintained and even replaced (but where the hell would you find spares?) when the leather cover is removed, can be inflated with a dedicated pump to a very low pressure of 0.4 - 1.2 bar, which equals 4 to 8 time squeezing the "inflator". This depends on the rider's weight and preference.

I bought this Gazelle track frame, 55 cm, for my 2nd Shimano Dura Ace 10 mm pitch group set.
Unfortunately, the geometry is a bit strange (very shallow seat tube angle, long top tube) and too old for both my taste and for the group set. Frame kit is approx. 1968, while the group set is approx. 10 years newer.
Not a great combination, not ridable for my or my son, so I took it apart again.
Here's a full spec.

Cinelli Volare SLX is a very nice saddle, rare, very much sought after.
The original is from the 1980s, but a remake is still sold.
Comfort-wise not my personal favourite.
There are several versions available, al the same shape, same padding, but different styles of leather.
Smoothe leather, suede, perforated, ...
In the 1980s, not many of these saddles were sold and used, which makes these saddles rare now.
What makes the Volare SLX so wanted nowadays is unclear. Same as for the Maestro. Well known name, pretty rare.
I got this saddle in pre-used condition, red textured suede. I hate red and differently coloured saddles and because this one was also a bit worn, I decided to dye it black. Easier and more nice with smooth leather than with suede.

Another edition of the famous Selle Italia Turbo saddle.Another attempt to keep their successful Turbo saddle alive. Not really nice with the plastic windows with a decal behind it. It's said that it has a bit more padding at the nose and at the back.Nice leather grain.Quite difficult to find this type of saddle, it's becoming rare.

I got myself some new goodies.Not for riding, but for posing. Nice for a collector if a track bike should have all components right, brands matching.For riding I use durable steel sprockets, no matter which brand, as long as the number of teeth is correct and the sprockets width matches the chain I use on that particular bike.

Last year I got myself a set of old Shimano Dura Ace track hubs with an aluminium 16T 1/2x1/8"Campagnolo track sprocket on it, last week I bought 2 pieces of aluminium 16T 1/2x3/32" ones from my nice neighbour at a bike jumble.